Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-12

OCCdu DtlEtct Ou14l anu -'tH |S%AAaiAeA -
known to be about 1880 fathons. Thus, so
far as We know-and that Is precious little
the basin OF the Pacific is circular bowl
about $500 fathonls deep Ill the deepest part,
with q well defined rim On the western, north
ern and eastern sides, and with lnnunerable
islands cropping up all over. Ike the peaks OF
the mountains OF submerged continent. On
the southern side the rim is broken off and
the bowl merges into the Antarctic ocean.
BASIN OF THE PACIFIC.
Assuming that this Is a correct description
OF the Pacific basin-which, from want OF
adequate sOundingS, we are far from beng
sure Oft compares curiously with the At
lantIc ocean, about which We know good
deal The latter ocean has bench or ter
race, varying from 80 10 100 miles in width,
and from nothing TO 100 fathoms III depth,
which borders the continents that incloSe the
ocean Beyond this bench deep water-in
places as deep as $500 fathoms-cornes sud
denly The ocean basin is traversed from
north TO south by a plateau, extending from
the Azores, or even further south, 70 Iceland ;
on either side of the plateau IS a deep valley
OF water. On the plateau depths of 2,0O
fath0rnS are rare; / 800 fathous Is the usual
average. But just outside the edges OF the
plateau there are places where no bottom Is
found at 3.000. The theory OF cos.noGonists
Is that this plateau was once dry land, AMI
that it sunk to q depth of nearly two miles
beneath the surface Of the ocean in convul-
sion OF nature. IL was by coupling this by
pothesiS with Platos remarkable account OF
the lost isl4nd of Atlantis, from which, ac-
cording 10 the Egyptians, they and the
Greeks. and Indeed all the enlightened peO-
ples of ancient times, derived their civlliza-
ton, that Ignatius DonneIly constructed his
interesting theory of a lost continent.
Sir William Dawson has not furnished the
public with the reasons that induced him 10
suppose that the Creators work IS finished in
the Atlantic and unfinished in the Pacific II
cannot have been that he argued that there
had been no subsistence of the bottom OF the
latter. for the evidences of such a catastrophe
were long ago pointed out by Dana and Oar
WIN The coral insect will not build below
100 or $50 feet beneath the surface of the
water Yet coral detritus has been brought
I'D from depths of 1000 to 5000 fathoms
and this throughout Polynesia. as far north Al
2 degs. or 3 dogs above the rropic of Capri
corn. and is far south as Australia. Hence
il seems that what IS now the bottom OF a
deep sea must once have been tho bottom OF
shallow sea, such as BeIu-ing sea is now.
SOME VERY CURIOUS FACTS
Again. the colossal remains on Easter
island show that at some time or other that
island must have been connected with Islands
now living 900, 200 and 5000 miles further
west. They could not have been erected By
the natives Of an island which cannot feed is
people. much less prove home for art The
islanders could not have sailed 10 Easter from
POLYNESIA, for they cannot beat 10 wludward
in their hight Lgau-ht canoes. and the trade
winds blow from the east and southeast Tor
eleven months i'll the year. nor could they
have come from the west OF South America,
for they are men Of q different race from
auy that ever lived on tais continent, being,
in fact. obviously members IF the P0lynesl4n
family. Hence, the former existence Of a
South Pacific continent, though not atzo-
Iutelv demonstrated IS rendered 80 probable
that no man Of science would be surprised al
the discovery Of absolute evidence Of It's Ely-
IL been.
Geozrsphers have amused themselves by
recoastrJict:u- the los continent as Don
nelly reconstructed Atlantis They have
taken existing Islands Tor the tops Of mouG-
tain ranges. and imagined valleys between
them. ss-edding from range 70 range Tnus,
Dana irlagiaeS two principal mountain
ranges. one starting from the Hawaiian
group AMI ruuuia- south 70 the NendaHa,
Society and Pearl islands, and another start
ing from the Society group and running
v,es.7ardlv through the Nayi-ators. tie FIJI
group. the solomon group, Nv GuiEea, tEe
Sui.e islands. Ce.ebe'. BorHe0. Slloarra aid
Joining the continent Of Asia 60 lalacca-
PERHAPS this theory Of coslnoc1uy is - recon
ci.able with the facts as am other.
L involves two alternative, each more op-
railing than the other II there was Pa
ciae continent. how did it disappear. DID II
fan crashing down through The waters. ~ m
instant. in some mighty earthquake which
hurlad millions Of human beings into eternity
with such awful ewiflness That no one knew
what was happening to hi4l Or jill i sub
side gradually. the AREA d cui.irabae land
becoming JESS each year. - that Inen fed 70
L.lltuur5 - eS,are the memorable adTancs q
the s7I~-iuz sea, and "a bile 4 few made their
escars. AM b1ze - distant lands tbe story q
the deluxe. the great bEls g-l-l-Lsi sr.-seTaiiy
Of hunger or IL TIE ba-1le - she food winch
was 10 seaa-v 70 suffice lar aii Are such
catastrorLas likely q &C -u-5-San Francls-o
f~aE